Using too high harness slots ffing

christineka

New member

• Mar 16, 2010

• #1

When the radian turns into a spare I was planning to put it into dh's car with the straps in the highest slots. That way it will fit the oldest three who ride in dh's car most often. The spare high back booster will become a main seat and since dh's car is old the children can't ride in backless boosters. (No headrests.) Dd3's shoulders are a tad below the second from the top slots. Would she be okay in the radian with the harness at the top slots?

 

spokaneCPST

CPST Instructor

• Mar 16, 2010

• #2

I don't think there is any danger in having the harness that high. In the past, only the TOP slots of covertibles were reinforced for use forward-facing. Combine that with the low rear-facing limits on those seats (20 pounds) and there were very small kids who were forward facing because they were over 20 pounds, but still short and having to use the top slots. The harness was up by their ears!

 

christineka

New member

• Mar 17, 2010

• #3

Thought I'd go try it out and take pictures. I think dd looks good. What about ds? (I did not tighten the straps since the seat is still installed as ds1's main seat and I didn't want to fiddle with them later.)

Dd3

Ds2 (Harness slots at his ears)

 

safeinthecar

Moderator - CPS Technician

• Mar 17, 2010

• #4

Yes, it's safe. Not very comfortable for the littles, but safe.

 

TXAggieTech

Active member

• Mar 17, 2010

• #5

I'm glad you posted this Christina, I have been wondering the same thing and kept forgetting to ask.

 

M

mykidsmylife

Well-known member

• Mar 17, 2010

• #6

This is how Seth fits in the built in seats. I am 100% okay with him using it on occasion.

 

monstah

New member

• Mar 17, 2010

• #7

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

crunchierthanthou

New member

• Mar 17, 2010

• #8

Yes, That's fine. Above is above as long as you can get it tight. Like SpokaneCPST said, older seats only had the tallest slots available for ff.

Did you have tether anchors retrofitted in that vehicle? Because that will be another concern. Your littles will need the safestop if it's tethered.

 

christineka

New member

• Mar 17, 2010

• #9

I forgot about the safestop thing. Dh's car does have tether anchors. So, if it is installed with seatbelt and anchored I have to put the safestop on for the younger kids? I could stick the avenue in the car too for the younger ones I guess, except I'm not sure the seat will install with a lap-shoulder belt in that car. I had planned to stick it in the middle.

 

joolsplus3

Admin - CPS Technician

• Mar 17, 2010

• #10

My Radian didn't come with a safestop, and there was no recall saying I MUST use one on smaller kids FF, so I wonder how necessary they are? Is it mandatory in the manual for your seat?

(Just thinking out loud, of course I did use the SS for Leah when she was a young FF'er, and my SS is clearly labeled to be used to 48 pounds, so gah, what a mess that thing is!)

 

TechnoGranola

Forum Ambassador

• Mar 17, 2010

• #11

I can see the height not being a problem in frontal/side crashes, but what about rollovers? Wouldn't all the extra space allow the child to move up towards the top of the straps? (kind of like extra ramping up in a RF seat if the straps are over the shoulders) and possibly lead to increased chance of ejection?

 

D

daycaremom2002

Active member

• Mar 17, 2010

• #12

If the kids only ride occasionally, I would just install the Radian like you were planning. I would put the tether on without the safe-stop and just attach it when you put the older kids in it. Un-hook it and secure it out of the way when the little kids are in the seat. The Radian has great head excursion numbers without the tether so I would be fine using it with the lower weight kids untethered. I also use seats occasionally with the harness up higher like you showed. I have never had a kid complain and I am totally comfortable with it.

 

brooklynsmommy

Active member

• Mar 18, 2010

• #13

TechnoGranola said:

I can see the height not being a problem in frontal/side crashes, but what about rollovers? Wouldn't all the extra space allow the child to move up towards the top of the straps? (kind of like extra ramping up in a RF seat if the straps are over the shoulders) and possibly lead to increased chance of ejection?

Click to expand...

I would think this at first too. But then you have to remember that the straps are tight on their thighs helping to hold them down.

 

TechnoGranola

Forum Ambassador

• Mar 18, 2010

• #14

brooklynsmommy said:

I would think this at first too. But then you have to remember that the straps are tight on their thighs helping to hold them down.

Click to expand...

Sure, but they are when they are RF too and straps over the shoulders is a worry then because we don't want their head coming out of the shell too much. So, why we would want it way out of the shell when FF? (which like I said am thinking would only happen in a rollover) Just gives the head more chance of striking something in the vehicle.